Scientists have grown artificial womb lining in a dish, raising hopes of new treatments for infertility

The new technique could also help develop new therapies to treat cancer and endometriosis an agonising condition that affects around two million women in the UK.

The lining of the womb is called the endometrium.

Over the course of the menstrual cycle, it changes becoming thicker and rich with blood vessels, ready for pregnancy.

But, if a woman doesn’t conceive, the womb sheds its lining causing a period.

Scientists at the University of Cambridge said until now experts have had to rely on animal studies to understand the earliest stage of pregnancy.

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“These organoids provide a major step forward in investigating the changes that occur during the menstrual cycle and events during early pregnancy when the placenta is established,” said Dr Margherita Turco.

Her colleague Professor Graham Burton added: “Events in early pregnancy lay the foundations for a successful birth.

The new technique could help treat the painful condition endometriosis and womb cancer, experts at Cambridge University said

WHAT IS ENDOMETRIOSIS?

Endometriosis is a chronic condition which occurs when tissue which behaves like the lining of the womb is found outside of the womb – in areas of the body including the ovaries, fallopian tubes, the abdomen and the bladder.

The exact cause of the condition isn’t known, but it’s thought it could be hereditary or due to environmental factors – namely the presence of dioxins in the environment.

Endometriosis can sometimes cause damage to the fallopian tubes or ovaries, leading to fertility problems.

Other complications can include painful ovarian cysts and adhesions – areas of tissue which can fuse organs together.

Symptoms:

painful or heavy periods

pain during and following sex

bleeding between periods

pain in the lower abdomen

difficulty conceiving

fatigue

discomfort going to the toilet

How can it affect fertility?

In some cases, endometriosis can leave a woman infertile.

If the abnormal tissue is left untreated it can cause damage and scarring to the womb and other parts of the female reproductive system.

If the damage is severe enough, it may mean a woman will be unable to conceive.

Treatment:

There is no cure for endometriosis, but the symptoms can be managed.

Some women are prescribed pain medications that target inflammation.

Others are given hormonal treatments to limit the production of oestrogen, which encourages the abnormal tissue to grow.

However, some women opt to have a hysterectomy to completely rid them of the pain.

According to NHS guidelines, a hysterectomy – an operation to remove the womb – is rare, and usually only performed on women for whom other treatments haven’t work, and who have decided to not have any more children.

“There’s increasing evidence that complications of pregnancy, such as restricted growth of the foetus, stillbirth and pre-eclampsia, which appear later in pregnancy, have their origins around the time of implantation, when the placenta begins to develop.”

Prof Burton’s team managed to grow and maintain the womb lining for several months.

And they found the lining responds to female sex hormones and secretes what’s known as “uterine milk” – proteins that nourish the embryo during the first months of pregnancy.

The researchers said this was critical in allowing a developing fertilised egg, known as a conceptus, to implant into the wall of the womb.

There is also strong evidence that the conceptus sends signals to the endometrial glands, that in turn stimulate the development of the placenta.

If the conceptus fails to send the messages, and communicate with mum it can lead to miscarriage or severe growth problems.